The Government has commissioned the Road and Transport Research Institute to investigate the microplastics emissions that are made in traffic. It can already be stated that it is from where most small plastic particles come from.

- More than half come from traffic and according to our preliminary results, it is more emissions than previously thought, says research leader Mikael Johannesson. Mats Gustafsson leads the work on tearing down tires in the old test road machine that the authority has had since 1943. Particles are then swept up and measured. Some are sent for analysis to Switzerland.

A plastic pond that spreads in nature

According to previous estimates, about 25 tonnes of microplastics are distributed every day in Sweden from traffic. In the next stage of the research, one should find out more about how the particles are spread in nature and probably use crayfish to find out how animals are affected by getting microplastics. In December, the research report will remain.